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Rosie gets her skates on to help

Castle Leisure Leisure was filled with the sounds of laughter, disco music and roller skating, thanks to the efforts of nine-year-old Rosie Rafferty.

The Year Five pupil at Holly Mount Primary, Greenmount, held the roller disco to raise funds for Bolton Hospice where her late grandfather was helped during his battle against a rare form of cancer.

More than 80 friends and family turned up to enjoy the afternoon — the latest chapter in Rosie’s fundraising. After visiting her grandfather, Frank Rafferty, at the hospice, she vowed to raise as much money as possible to help buy much-needed equipment.

“I went to see grandad in the hospice and they were helping him so much I wanted to help too,” Rosie told the Bury Times.

“I saw a sign on the wall, saying that £100 would buy a wheelchair, and so I thought, if I could sell some of my old toys and teddies I could get enough money to buy that wheelchair.”

Since then, Rosie has run tabletop sales outside her Bury home along with other sponsored events and had raised more than £600 for the hospice. The disco was the largest Rosie had organised and has now raised more than £600.

Mum, Clare Rafferty explained: “This was Rosie’s idea and has been completely organised by her. Her dad and I have overseen preparations and helped with the official side of things, but everything else, from writing to local businesses for sponsorship tow-ards the cost of the hall, to publicising and selling the tickets was all down to Rosie. We are all extremely proud of her for doing this.”

Rosie raised the cost of hiring the hall by securing sponsorship from local business Rakem Ltd, and tickets were advertised through word of mouth and via Facebook. Prizes for a raffle were all donated, and she also received a personal donation from the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Joan Grimshaw.